A cooking oil delivery truck with a total of 4,844 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes was seized at Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore, informed Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

The cigarette cartons were seized when the Malaysia-registered lorry was stopped at the checkpoint. The scanned images of the lorry showed anomalies. After further questioning and uncovering boxes in the truck, officers found the duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The potential duty, as well as Goods and Services Tax of the duty-unpaid cigarettes is said to be about S$382,600 and S$23,320, respectively. Photo courtesy: ICA

The potential duty, as well as Goods and Services Tax of the duty-unpaid cigarettes is said to be about S$382,600 and S$23,320, respectively, revealed ICA.

The 50-year- old Malaysian driver, the cigarettes, and the vehicle have been handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

"We will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore," ICA said.

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Deepti Kaul – Senior Writer

Deepti Kaul has over a decade’s experience in journalism. She has worked with media giants like Hindustan Times, NDTV, India Today, IndiaTV and as a freelancer. She loves to write on Indians abroad, fashion, lifestyle,food, travel, showbiz, education, parenting while meeting people and experiencing different cultures.